No, not Manny Ramirez. We're talking Richard Ramirez. The infamous "Night Stalker" of serial killer notoriety. Mariners pitcher Miguel Batista throws his name out there along with David "Son of Sam" Berkowitz, Ted Bundy and other crazies in this rather interesting website. It's being used to promote his The Avenger of Blood fiction novel. Look, I won't promise it will change your life or anything. But I can guarantee you that you won't find anything similar out there by a major league ballplayer.

Do I have anything new on Jarrod Washburn? Nope. Arthur Rhodes? Other than the same reports that say the Marlins are interested in him? No. Erik Bedard? He's still here. Not going anywhere.

In other words, Batista will have to do for now. If anything, the audio alone on the site makes visiting it worthwhile.

The site is still a work in progres. Most of the links don't really go anywhere.

The audio is pretty cool, though, and he clearly has invested some time and effort in the site design. Be interesting to see how the site evolves as he puts more stuff on it.

Posted by allistair

6:07 PM, Jul 24, 2008

I must have missed those Rhodes-to-Marlins rumors. ???

Posted by Miles

6:35 PM, Jul 24, 2008

Worst blog topic ever.

Posted by beezlebub

6:54 PM, Jul 24, 2008

give Bautista credit for being well-rounded. if you suffered through even one minute of Clemens before the congressional committee earlier in the year... well, you know what I mean. so he's a BP pitcher this year. doesn't much matter with the other 24 zombies going through the motions on the field. and, yes, this is the 'worst blog topic'...

Posted by shane/olympia

6:55 PM, Jul 24, 2008

"5:36pm: According to Ed Price of the Newark Star-Ledger, talks have progressed on a possible Washburn-Yankees trade. Price says the Ms aren't sold on Kei Igawa, but the Yankees are willing to discuss Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner."

shane/olympia - Hope that's not true. At least on first glance thru stats, Melky Cabrera seems like a pudgier Jeremy Reed, with the added "bonus" of being 4 years older.

In other words, I'm sure the Ms are really interested. *sigh*

Posted by shane/olympia

7:07 PM, Jul 24, 2008

"Olney On Ibanez
By Tim Dierkes [July 23 at 10:05am CST]

ESPN's Buster Olney had some details on Mariners left fielder Raul Ibanez yesterday:

There is a perception that the Mariners' asking price on Raul Ibanez is high, but Seattle hasn't deeply negotiated with anyone yet -- though the Mariners will be getting into those talks in the days ahead. While their asking price is going to be affected by the fact that Ibanez will likely be a Type A free agent after the season and would command two compensation draft picks, it figures that they'll work out a deal with the Mets, Diamondbacks or some other team for Ibanez, who is arguably the best left-handed hitter on the market. It figures, too, that the Mariners will be looking to move Jose Vidro.

There are other quality left-handed hitters on the market - Adam Dunn and Aubrey Huff have both out-hit Ibanez this year. All three are question marks defensively though.

i would take melky and igawa if i had the chance to get rid of vidro and wash

Posted by Dave from the left coast

7:09 PM, Jul 24, 2008

Batista's not only a pitcher, he's a wacko too? Maybe his literary activities have sapped him in the pitching department. I'll bet Richard Ramirez has a better fastball, too.

Posted by shane/olympia

7:15 PM, Jul 24, 2008

all i know is i will just be sick if the roster doesn't change at all by the deadline

if nothing happens Kim Ng should be hired on the 1st of august

raul gone
wash gone
Rhodes gone
vidro gone
atleast

get rid of cairo,burke, and butista.
bring wlad and tug up to the majors

Posted by Phil

7:16 PM, Jul 24, 2008

Well, I'm not sure I know what a Sipnosis is, but that's a cool website. I hope Batisitas's book does muy bien. I think that he might be a valuable reliever and haven't given up on him.
Well, I hope we aren't all mad about the trades we made in week or so. Not sure much harm can be done anyway.
Thanks for the continued great blog Geoff. Ignore the trolls and watch the snarkyness.

i hope we could send them Rhodes and kenji since they need relief help and more at catcher

Posted by scottM

7:35 PM, Jul 24, 2008

WRITING/TRAVEL/PERFORMANCE/FREE AGENTS

When so many increasingly bring up the issue that the M's players have to fly more charter miles than any other teams, I'd be interested to know how many HOURS of extra time this means for these HIGHLY paid athletes over the average team's travel hours. Mentioning it over and over may be making it and issue for FA's. The 2001 team managed to win 116 games with that "onerous" road schedule, so it's a lame excuse for losing, if being used that way.

Also, if the M's require more travel time, why not make the correlation that athletes with creative interests (Batista-writing, Broussard-music) add some well-roundedness to their teams' travels.

It's awesome that Miguel Batista is a writer. It's hardly the distraction that cavorting with strippers or dating Madonna might be.

I do wish, however, in a completely unrelated way, that Miguel's secret adjustment that had him pitching so well in that April victory in Anaheim was not so much of a mystery that it had to vanish.

"New York's top brass will meet tomorrow in Tampa to discuss what, if any, moves they should make before the deadline, but indications are that the team is willing to deal prospects and make a run. The name with the most heat is Mariners left-hander Jarrod Washburn, who wouldn't be a flashy pickup, but would give the Yankees a reliable innings-eater to put at the back of their rotation. He'd certainly be an upgrade over Darrell Rasner or Sidney Ponson. Seattle is not impressed with center fielder Melky Cabrera, but has been scouting New York's Double-A affiliate Trenton. That's where the Yankees' top hitting prospect, Austin Jackson, has been playing all year."

austin is a stud

Posted by scottM

7:48 PM, Jul 24, 2008

from the Batista website: "the first athlete to have published a book of poetry"

Actually, Miguel isn't even the first Seattle pro athlete to have published a serious book of poetry. Seattle's first pro athlete of the modern era, the first man drafted for the now-extinct Seattle Supersonics was a guy named Tom Meschery. His poetry writing was a big deal in the late '60s when the Sonics played like the M's of '08. When Tom retired from the NBA he went on to receive a Master of Creative Writing in Poetry from the nation's most prestigious writing program at the University of Iowa. At last report he teaches poetry at a college in Nevada.

So Miguel, stuff that in your iambic sipnosis and smoke it!!!

Posted by Spike Owen

8:17 PM, Jul 24, 2008

I don't understand those who say this is the worst topic ever.

This kind of thing is exactly what is interesting about a blog. It goes deeper than what you hear or read anywhere else. It gives players personality. We get to know more about them than say back in the 80's when all you knew about a player was what was written behind his baseball card.

It's not like we don't get a chance to read and talk about more ''baseball related'' topics on this site!

On another note, how many of you realize that Erik Bedard's stats aren't that bad? Felix is having a great season, but Bedard's ERA is only about .70 higher and his batting average against is actually a little better! The problem is strictly innings and health.

Since you never have enough solid pitching, the M's better make sure they move and deal the right personnel. He is way better than every other starter than Felix, even injured. I would give him a chance to heal and only deal him if it's a complete no-brainer from a desperate and crazy team. Keep in mind, there will be such teams next year if it becomes evident he won't sign with us.

M's have enough money to field a good team next year. Not a championship team but a decent team. Losing our only other proven solid starter would hurt bad. I don't care that much about his attitude, he doesn't have to be the leader. I want talent on the team. It's the FO's job to find leadership and add it to the team while substracting the non-performing rotten apples. A team with a 100 million payroll does not have to completely clean house and start over. With a new GM and coach, you can change 6-7 players, and continue to incorporate young players while keeping your talented guys.

Posted by 11Records

10:13 PM, Jul 24, 2008

Speaking of starting pitching - it looks like Ryan Feierabend made his first start since May tonight. And - he got through 6 innings on just 68 pitches, with 3 hits, 4 k's and no walks.

That's a great sign. I mean - dude hadn't pitched for 2 months!

Also - Victor Diaz had 2 bombs and drove in 4. If the M's trade/dump Vidro, and trade Raul, Diaz and Balentien could/should both come up and get a lot of playing time.

Posted by Konrad in ID

10:45 PM, Jul 24, 2008

Bedard's still there? GOOD!

Sorry Geoff, but I don't care if he talks to the media. Actually, he talked to that FSN guy a couple of weeks ago with some thoughtful answers, talked up how he liked Seattle and such. If he all of a sudden changed and told you daily all about his hurts, then he'd sound like he was just whining anyway. When he's healthy, he's very good and that's all I care about. I like watching him pitch.

Besides, if it comes down to the M's being out of it again next year, a trade at the deadline next year assuming he's definitely healthy would net a lot better value than an iffy health situation this year. I'd like to see a lot more patience where Bedard is concerned.

Washburn does give us more glimpses into the real baseball world, if that's what you want, and he's by anyone's standards a class act and a hard working guy. I'll miss watching him, but for a strict business decision I think Bedard is the better keeper considering age and he's a dominate lefty.

Posted by 11Records

7:41 AM, Jul 25, 2008

A couple of things... If the O's trade George Sherrill for a couple of prospects, thing of the amazing haul they'll have received for Erik Bedard. WOW.

2ndly - if the M's hadn't extended Kenji Johjima for no good reason whatsoever, they would totally be able to dump him on the Yankees right now. So sad. So very, very sad.

Posted by Ziasudra

8:36 AM, Jul 25, 2008

On the Jojima situation: hindsight is better than foresight. True, but 99.99% of the Seattle baseball afficianados had great foresight - the only one blinded therein was, unfortunately, Bavasi (or, his masters).

Posted by Waz

8:45 AM, Jul 25, 2008

I absolutely agree with Spike Owen's comment.

M's have to keep Erik Bedard, Raul Ibanez and Adrian Beltre. Don't ever trade them or toss them out.

I have to repeat in almost every blog, when will M's ever get rid of Cairo, Vidro, Batista, Silva and Johjima?

M's can call Victor Diaz, he can be DH. Clement for Catcher and LaHair for first base. Give them time and they will smash some balls.

Call Rowland-Smith back to start, I can't stand to watch Batista pitch anymore. Eventually, he is going to pitch tonight? M's going to lose sixth games skid.

I'm afraid Batista has lots of work to do on his site. Many of the links are dead and the music is repetitious. Wonder if the Spanish language side works better, didn't try it. You have to admire a guy for working towards literary goals that are lofty. Wish that benefitted the Mariners just a tad. It doesn't.

Posted by Toe Tag

3:02 PM, Jul 25, 2008

Umm, "fiction novel" is a redundancy.

Maybe it's because I have on old, steam-powered browser on my computer, but clicking on the drawings on the "Avenger of Blood" Web site got me nowhere.

Posted by Lourdes Salguero

3:29 PM, Jul 25, 2008

Its very intresting to know more information about the personal life of the profesional players, because they are many times a good example for others and specialy for children. We need to enhance more educationg people on how to help others, such as Miguel batista does and other colegues of him.

Not only as profesional players its important, but they also share the big heart Latino Community has.

Way to go Latino Players!

Posted by Marco/Seattle

6:48 PM, Jul 25, 2008

It is really interesting how a person can be so versatile... player, writer, friend and a star. Miguel Batista is all of this (cannot really say a friend, but I have read it, and I tend to believe it). I have read a few pages of the books and the same keeps you interested and gives your imagination something to think about. Please say "Gracias" to Miguel for being and example for all the latinos that live in the US.

Posted by A New GM, Please

9:55 AM, Jul 27, 2008

The Mariner management are such morons. The team is doing well, so they trade Sexton who was batting .340 against left-handed pitchers. It disrupted the clubhouse. Sexton was very popular. The reason management gave was that they didn't want to hurt Sexton's feelings. I would like to get my feelings hurt that way for the money he is making. And now they want to trade a pitcher who is starting to come around, and who no doubt, will do quite well wherever he winds up. This general management is so stupid and he had imput in the stupid decision Bavasi made. Let's get a new GM. Sooner than later.